"Notes4Bethesda" Will Be Delivered by Marine-Moms Bethesda, January 29, 2012

Marine Moms-Bethesda, a group of volunteers who are deeply involved with supporting troops, host luncheons once a month at Walter Reed Hospital,4 East. Their protocol for serving luncheons  is: Active Duty wounded, injured, and ill combat patients, all service branches, and their families from 4 East, ICU and the 7th Floor are served first. After they have been served, Liaison staff and the immediate caregivers of the patients are welcome.

In the latest newsletter, Marine-mom Jane wrote, The website states: "Our mission is to provide a monthly luncheon, gift bags, and pantry items to the wounded, injured, and ill combat Veterans, all service branches, and their families, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland."

"2012 luncheon schedule is on the books and we are off to an exciting year! Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval Hospital combined in September, 2011, so "Bethesda" and  "Walter Reed" are one in the same now."

Bethesda Marine Moms collect "Notes4Bethesda" to hand out to combat patients. The notes are welcome anytime. If you would like to send an upbeat note of support, encouragement, and THANKS to the combat patients at Walter Reed, to be given out at the January 29, 2012 luncheon, please email it no later than the evening of Thursday, January 26, 2012, to Notes4Bethesda@MarineMoms-Bethesda.org.

Your ONE note will go to ALL of the wounded, injured and ill combat patients that they find while attending the January luncheon. Marine-mom, Terri (in Florida) helps with the "Notes4Bethesda." She will format the notes received, and send the word document back up north, where the notes are printed, packaged and distributed.

If you are from out of state, would like to volunteer some of your time to Marine Moms-Bethesda, are a little bit techie and like to write, and are familiar with the "Marine way" of doing things, Jane is looking for help writing the newsletter. Contact her, jane@marinemoms-bethesda.org.

Jane said,

"If you know someone there and would like us to say a special hello to them for you, please let us know and we will do our best to do so. If you can, please give them a heads up that we will be on 4 East Sunday, January 29th, hoping to begin serving between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

"It always amazes me that such a seemingly small act of thoughtfulness can make such a huge impact on our Warriors and their families. Be sure to include your state – never know who is there from your state and your note will be like a “touch of home” to them! I know we will be looking for some Tennessee Marines, a Marine from Alaska, and a Marine from Ohio.

"The luncheon will feature a Football Theme with chili, wings, sandwiches, and all the sides! Many thanks to Mike’s friends in Pennsylvania, Valerie in Ohio, Guy and Mary T. in Maryland, Ed in Tennessee, Carole and the Castaways in Michigan, and Washington State Operation Thank You for your support of January's 4 East luncheon! Happiness is a printer with full ink cartridges and card stock… handwritten thank you's coming soon!" Jane said.

Joe Schmick, Washington State Representative Reports Encouraging Job Statistics

In his latest newsletter, Joe Schmick, Washington State Representative, 9th Legislative District, offered some encouragement.

Schmick wrote, "There was some good news to come from Olympia last month. The Employment Security Department released data showing that our state’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate went from 9.1 percent in October to 8.7 percent in November. This means more than 12,000 jobs were added, which represents the largest one-month employment gain over the last four years. Preliminary estimates also show that nearly every industry sector posted job gains in November. You can read more here. Let’s hope this economic momentum continues in 2012, as consumers gain more confidence and employers continue to hire."

He also invites constituents to join him for a 'teleforum'.

"Please join me on Thursday, Feb. 2 [2012] at 6:35 p.m., for our 9th District telephone town hall meeting. This is a chance for residents around the districts to converse with me and listen to other constituents discuss issues important to you.

"To participate, residents may call the toll-free number at 1-877-229-8493 and enter the code 15440 when prompted. During the telephone town hall we’ll listen to residents, answer questions and discuss a variety of topics related to the 2012 session. Once on the line, participants may select star 3 on their telephone keypads to ask a question or they can simply listen in and take part in instant polls. There will also be an opportunity at the end of the call to leave me a message if you’d like. I hope you can join us!"

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Freeman High School Wrestlers Having Most Successful Season

Freeman High School wrestling team is off to its most successful start to a season in some time. The wrestling team has 25 kids out for the pro-gram, the most they have had under Coach Ripke’s guidance.

The team started the season off at the Davenport tournament, and took 2nd as a team, and had individual champs in Billy Sims, Taylor Glidewell, and Avery Smetana.

From St. Maries tournament, they brought home a number of medals. Tournament Champions were Taylor Glidewell, Teigan Glidewell, as well as Jake Hanson and Wyatt Smith.

Taylor Glidwell and Avery Smetana were both successful when they went to the prestigious Tri-State tournament: Taylor finished 2-2, and Avery finished 6th place.

The rest of the wrestling team went to Springdale, where Teigan Glidewell won another tournament, and Isaiah Crane and Markus Goldbach brought home silver.

The wrestlers finished winning the Freeman Christmas Invite a week ago. It is the first tournament won at Freeman, as a team, in some time. The wrestlers edged out Selkirk ti win the tournament by one point, 166-165. The tournament came down to the night's last match -- Avery Smetana needed to pin his opponent in order to give the Scotties the title -- and he did just that. Taylor Glidewell brought home gold again, Billy Sims brought home silver.

The league season is next, and is expected to be very tough, with Colville, Lakeside, Riverside, and Chewelah posing great competition.

FHS team is still very young, with 14 freshman, and continues to improve.

"I am very excited about this team and what the future could hold for the wrestling program," the editor of the weekly Scottie Newsletter wrote. "Come support the wrestlers as they compete at home on January 19th (6 PM start), and then host the NEA District Tournament on the 4th of February (10 AM start). 

"Our little kids wrestling program will have their registration night on the 17th of January from 6-7 PM at the K-8 Multi-purpose room. Practices will start on the 22nd of February and the season will end March 31, 2012."
For Questions, contact Coach Ripke at the high school 291-3721 ext 222.

Photographer Richard Slover's "Scene Around - Photos of the Palouse and Northwest" Exhibited at Valleyford, Wash.

January 1-30, 2012, Richard Slover Photograph Show and Sale, "Scene Around - Photos of the Palouse and Northwest" will be exhibited at On Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop, 12212 E Palouse Hwy, Valleyford, Wash.

Coffeeshop owner, Elaine Rising, will host a reception to honor Richard on January, 20, 2012, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Refreshments provided free.